Derek Murphy, 49, of Coolock, pleaded guilty to threatening a doctor with a gun gesture after she reduced his methadone dosage. The threat was made on 30 October 2013 while he was at a drug treatment centre. Murphy had been on bail for a 12‑year robbery and firearms conviction from 2015 and had 42 prior convictions, including manslaughter, robbery and a tiger kidnapping. In 2018 he was convicted of robbery again and received a nine‑year sentence, with a release date of 13 June 2025. The court found it "unjust" to extend his custody and sentenced him to one year imprisonment to run concurrently with his existing nine‑year term. No additional time was imposed. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
John Gallagher, aged 19, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two knifepoint robberies in Tallaght, one on 22 May 2018 at Springfield Medicare Pharmacy and another on 19 October 2018 in a taxi at Greenhills. In the taxi incident, he produced a knife to the driver's throat, demanded €130, and fled after receiving the cash. Gallagher claimed he was intoxicated, on drugs, owed money, and had been threatened that he would be shot in front of his children if he did not repay. He has two children and prior road‑traffic convictions. The court, after hearing the prosecution and defence, rejected a request for an adjournment and a probation report. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year custodial sentence for each robbery, to run concurrently, noting the seriousness of the knife offence and the potential for reform.
Peter Bradshaw, 55, of Glin Court, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty to arson at his apartment on 24 January 2018. The fire spread to neighbouring flats, causing €782,027 in damage and forcing residents into emergency accommodation. He was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended on strict conditions. After the fire, Bradshaw went to Clontarf Garda Station and confessed to a fictitious murder, claiming he had assaulted a man, set a mattress on fire, and attempted to fake his own death. He later admitted he had not murdered anyone. Bradshaw has 40 prior convictions, including arson, burglary and theft, and had a five‑year sentence for arson in 2009. The judge noted his propensity for setting fires and the danger he posed to society.
In a murder case, Gardai collected DNA and hair samples from two dogs owned by Paul O'Beirne (36) and Jeffrey Morrow (37), whose car was stolen in October 2015. The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, were involved in the February 2016 shooting of Vincent Ryan (25) on McKee Road, Finglas. Joseph Cogan, the car owner, described how his silver Volkswagen Golf GTI was taken and how a grey canvas sheet in the boot, used to protect the car from dog hair, was likely covered in hair. He confirmed giving permission for DNA and hair sampling on April 14, 2016. Additional testimony included Gary Tai's observation of a burning car on Red Lane and John Shaughnessy's fire‑fighting efforts, with Garda Niall Geoghan photographing the scene. The trial proceeds before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and four women.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced 30‑year‑old Romanian national Constantin Bodgan Chirila to three and a half years' imprisonment for burglary, theft and possession of stolen property committed shortly after his arrival in Ireland in July 2016. The judge noted that Chirila had been involved in several offences within the first few months of his stay, including a burglary of an apartment at Clonmore Villas, Ballybough on 7 August 2016, for which he pleaded guilty. The sentence was back‑dated to 23 November 2017, when he was first placed in custody for another offence, and the final nine months were suspended. Chirila admitted breaking the front door lock and stealing €80 in cash, but denied taking a €400 laptop. He had seven prior convictions, most between August and October 2016, and had been in custody since November 2017.
A 36‑year‑old man named Brian Bridgeman admitted stealing the mummified head of an 800‑year‑old 'Crusader' and a second skull from St Michan's Church in Dublin. The theft occurred between 23 and 24 February when Bridgeman entered the vaults as a trespasser. Gardaí recovered both skulls on 5 March. Bridgeman was arraigned at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, pleaded guilty to trespassing and theft, and was remanded in custody. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 24 July, with a victim impact report due at the next hearing.
Petronel Pal, 36, was arrested in Dublin on May 3 after a second attempt to secure bail was denied. He is wanted in Romania for aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and aggravated robbery committed on April 10, 2014, when he and others allegedly broke into the apartment of Virgil Busa, 37, at Academy Square, Navan. Busa was violently assaulted and died three days later. The alleged crime group, headed by a relative of Pal, is said to have used extreme violence and stolen a laptop, tablet, mobile phone and rucksack. Pal has eight prior convictions in Ireland, including possession of equipment for making false instruments and handling stolen property, which the Gardaí cited as evidence of a flight risk. The High Court refused bail, and the Court of Appeal upheld that decision, citing Pal's record and potential for absconding. Pal's lawyer noted that extradition proceedings will involve significant legal issues, including extra‑territoriality. The case remains pending.
In a Dublin Circuit Court hearing, Charlotte Skovhaus, who had attempted to help a homeless woman named Cher Quinn, was held up at knifepoint during a drive back to her home. Quinn, who had claimed she had been robbed, pointed a knife at Skovhaus's chest, demanded money, and became verbally abusive while searching her handbag. CCTV identified Quinn, who was arrested and later pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and production of a knife on 29 August 2016. Skovhaus suffers from post‑traumatic stress disorder, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia and headaches, and reports that the incident has altered her perception of homeless people. Quinn, who has mental health problems and was drug‑free at the time of the attack, expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final two years of a five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term, requiring Quinn to engage with the Probation Service on her mental health and substance abuse issues.
In December 2018, Bernard Kelly, aged 38, led Gardaí on a high‑speed chase that ended with his vehicle colliding with cars waiting to collect children from a school. Kelly, who was driving with his partner and their three‑month‑old child, claimed he continued driving to protect the infant and feared Gardaí would ram his car. He broke red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road, and entered a one‑way road. The chase was halted once he approached the school, but he was later arrested. Kelly pleaded guilty to endangerment and criminal damage to seven vehicles, including a car that was written off and a driver who suffered minor whiplash. He received a five‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence, with a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term for endangerment and a one‑year term for possession of stolen property, to be served consecutively. The court noted his 141 prior convictions and struggles with heroin addiction.
A 20‑year‑old Wicklow man, Aiden Hargreaves, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to consecutive terms of three years and two years for two separate knifepoint robbery offences. The first offence was an attempted robbery at Harbour Court, Dublin on 31 October 2018, and the second was a robbery at Carlingford Parade, Dublin on 29 January 2019. Hargreaves pleaded guilty to both. The final 15 months of the sentence were suspended on strict conditions. The court heard that in October 2018 Hargreaves approached a man who was rolling a cigarette, produced a knife, and the man fled after smashing a bottle. In January 2019, while on bail for the earlier offence, Hargreaves approached a Spanish national, produced a knife, and demanded the man's wallet and phone, which the man handed over. Hargreaves has 33 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, drug possession and failure to comply with a Garda direction.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, prosecutors argued that two Limerick men, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25), were in possession of a 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol that was cocked, loaded and ready to fire, indicating intent to endanger life. The case was built on evidence from an Alfa Romeo seized by Gardaí, which contained the loaded handgun, eight rounds in the magazine, a round in the breach, two petrol canisters (one containing petrol), a pair of latex gloves, clothing and cocaine. The prosecution claimed the men had taken "serious precautions" to avoid leaving forensic traces and suggested a plan to destroy evidence by burning the car. Defence counsel countered that the presence of ammunition in the breach was not proof of a cocked gun and that the items could have been used for other criminal purposes, such as robbery. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty. Paul Whelan pleaded not guilty.
In a case heard at the Court of Appeal, William Butler, aged 52, was found guilty of stealing €19,380 from a widow's pension over a three‑month period between November 2013 and January 2014. Butler admitted to obtaining the victim's banking details and withdrawing the money from the Bank of Ireland, Ballyfermot branch, to gamble. He had pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, by Judge Karen O'Connor on 13 December 2018. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. Butler had made no restitution to the victim, who had discovered the withdrawals and had contacted him. The court noted Butler's previous good character and lack of prior convictions, but emphasized the seriousness of the dishonesty and the vulnerability of the victim. No error was found in the original sentencing, and the appeal was dismissed.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Denis Kaczor Niecko, aged 30, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for handling stolen vehicles. He admitted to dealing with a stolen Audi A3 in Balscadden, Co. Dublin, between 9 and 22 February 2017, and a stolen Nissan Juke in Poppintree, Dublin 11, between 19 April and 11 May 2017. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions, citing a probation report that showed a willingness to cooperate. Niecko had raised €2,000 in compensation for the owners of the vehicles, but both owners refused the money; it was directed to the McVerry Trust. He was also found to have been involved in a jet‑ski sale to an undercover Garda, during which he fled in a van and crashed 200 metres up the road. The court noted his prior 23 convictions, his mental‑health difficulties, and his expressed remorse. Denis Kaczor Niecko pleaded guilty.
Peter Sheridan, 52, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging property and theft after smashing the windows of ten cars with a hammer in the Dublin 8 area on 8 June 2017. Gardaí received a call about a broken‑in car from which a Sat Nav was stolen in Dean Swift Square, and CCTV footage showed a man in a dark hoodie using a shatter hammer. The investigation revealed ten cars damaged, with total damage of €3,000. Sheridan admitted he had broken into the cars while heavily intoxicated, claiming he could not remember the act. He had 88 prior convictions, including arson, theft, criminal damage and escape from lawful custody. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the aggravating factor of the number of cars and Sheridan's criminal history, sentenced him to two and a half years imprisonment, fully suspended for three years on the condition that he obey all directions of the Probation Service and remain alcohol‑free.
David Dunne, 35, was sentenced to nine years for 13 robberies in Dublin between July and September 2017. He admitted the robberies were driven by a need to fund his crack cocaine and heroin addiction, saying he was "off my head on crack" and that he had sold his car for €300 to buy drugs. Dunne pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted his 92 prior convictions and the seriousness of the 13 victims involved, but also his expressed wish to rehabilitate. Consecutive sentences totalling nine years were imposed, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, including victim‑focused work and residential drug treatment if directed. The robberies involved threats with knives, theft of over €2,640 in cash and cigarettes, and the use of CCTV footage to identify and prosecute him. The case highlighted the impact of drug addiction on criminal behaviour.
Patrick Russell, aged 56, pleaded guilty to stealing €235,000 from businessman Paul O'Connell by posing as an arbitrator and financial consultant. Russell promised to facilitate the purchase of a commercial warehouse for €235,000, but the property was never bought. He obtained €15,000 and €5,000 from O'Connell's bank account, transferred them to a UK account and to an account in his wife's name, claiming they were for stamp duty and fees. O'Connell then paid an additional €215,000 to solicitors who later reported Russell to Gardaí. Russell presented forged documents from the Property Registration Authority to mislead O'Connell and his family. He has nine prior minor traffic convictions, denied theft initially, and pleaded guilty in March. The court adjourned sentencing to November 4, ordered a probation report, and noted Russell's health issues and potential UK employment to repay the remaining €20,000.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 31‑year‑old Carl Cullen pleaded guilty to robbery at Tolka Valley Road, Finglas, on 27 February 2017. Cullen and a co‑accused entered a taxi at about 6 a.m., behaved oddly and appeared intoxicated. The driver, fearing a crash, stopped the vehicle and left it 40 metres away. Cullen and the accomplice then rummaged through the car, taking a phone, an MP3 player and a bag of coins. Garda Barry Hehir reported that the victim later located the phone via a "find phone" feature, leading police to the suspects on St Helena's Road. Cullen, who has 40 prior convictions, was sentenced to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment by Judge Martin Nolan on 22 November 2017. He had intended to appeal the sentence, but withdrew the appeal after the Court of Appeal warned that it could increase his jail time. The appeal was formally withdrawn with the court's permission.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped all charges against Jonathan Gill, who was accused of participating in the 2011 kidnapping of a Drogheda family. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Vincent Heneghan SC informed Judge Karen O'Connor that the State was entering a nolle prosequi regarding three charges of false imprisonment and one of robbery. Gill, of Malahide Road, Swords, had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Warren Nawn, Jean Marie Nawn, and their ten-week-old baby between August 1 and August 2, 2011. The State alleged Gill was part of a group that held the family hostage before robbing €660,000 from the man's workplace. No reason was given for the decision to drop the case. This follows a previous trial collapse in 2017 due to juror misconduct concerns and a subsequent adjournment in May 2023 when a vital witness was unavailable in Australia. Gill remained on bail throughout the proceedings. Separately, Mark McCarthy, of Ballyfermot, was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to the kidnapping; his sentence was later increased to 15 years following a successful appeal by prosecutors.
John Maher, 48, of Drimnagh, was found asleep by Garda Caroline Kelly in possession of stolen jewellery and later pleaded guilty to two burglaries. The first was at Keeper Road, Drimnagh, on 19 October 2017, where a back window was smashed and electronic items worth €1,200 were stolen; blood on the wall matched Maher's DNA. The second was at Crumlin Road, Crumlin, on 18 October 2018. In both cases Maher claimed he had no memory of the offences. He has 42 prior convictions, including aggravated burglary, burglary and criminal damage, and a serious heroin addiction, though he has been on methadone since 2002. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. The suspended portion is separate from the effective custodial term. All stolen items were returned. The court noted his guilty plea, good prison behaviour and the link between his addiction and offending as mitigating factors.
A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has been convicted of theft and money laundering totalling €1.6 million at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Simon Gold, aged 54, had pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments spanning January 2010 to October 2012. Following over two weeks of evidence, a jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts after deliberating for more than 12 hours. The jury acquitted Gold on one count of deception relating to €28,000. The prosecution case outlined that Gold misrepresented himself as a qualified financier and merchant banker to secure large sums from investors who believed they were making down payments towards loans. One complainant transferred €1.6 million in October 2012 into what he thought was his own account but which Gold controlled. Gold was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Shane McDonnell, 29, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a car, three counts of dangerous driving, driving without insurance or a licence, and possession of a stolen laptop and PlayStation. McDonnell, who has 25 prior convictions and a 10‑year driving disqualification, drove a stolen VW Passat at high speed around Dublin's city centre on 17 April 2017, running red lights, overtaking on the wrong side of the road and causing other drivers to swerve. He was arrested after a foot chase. McDonnell later told Gardaí he had been paid €300 to move the stolen car for someone. He also admitted he had been asked to pick up stolen items from a Terenure burglary for €50. The court noted he had used his time in custody well, describing a transformation, and sentencing was adjourned to 12 July 2019.
In a failed robbery at Medipharm on 23 March 2018, Brendan Duffy (45) of Ballyfermot, Dublin, entered the pharmacy and demanded the male employee open the till. The employee refused, and a struggle ensued. Duffy punched the employee, who was knocked onto a display case. Duffy then produced a screwdriver, threatened the employee with "I'll kill you," and stabbed him in the arm before fleeing the shop. Duffy claimed the offence was driven by a drug debt and fear of debtors, and that he had no intention to harm anyone. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting the offence and cooperating with Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Duffy's guilty plea, remorse, prior convictions, drug problems beginning at age 16, and personal tragedy, sentenced him to 14 months imprisonment, crediting time already served.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a 54-year-old man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, who faces 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments. The accused has pleaded not guilty to all charges relating to events between January 2010 and October 2012. Evidence heard over eleven days established that the man represented himself as a qualified financier and merchant banker, using multiple names including Simon Gold, Simon Gould, Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. The prosecution alleges he defrauded four Irish men and a Danish businessman. The defence contended that the absence of complaints to gardaí undermined the prosecution case. After deliberating for nearly three hours, the jury was directed to adjourn and will resume consideration of the matter the following day.
At the trial of Simon Gold (54) of Augharan, Aughavas, Co. Leitrim, charged with 22 counts including money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments between January 1, 2010, and October 22, 2012, the prosecution has stated that Gold 'is not Walter Mitty' and that he created fake documents that 'conned real people out of real money in real life'. Gold has pleaded not guilty. The jury has heard that Gold represented himself as a highly qualified financier, merchant banker, or financial consultant. The trial has heard that Gold accepted he used multiple names, including Simon Gould, Simon Magnier, and Niall O'Donoghue, and that he is responsible for an Ulster Bank account in the name of Anglo Irish Global Ltd. The prosecution has stated that Gold operated companies such as Anglo Irish Global Ltd, Belgravia Consultants Ltd, Elite Bank Group, and Irish Nationwide Bank, which he described as a 'virtual bank' not authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland. The prosecution alleges that Gold stole money from Danish businessman Kurt Lauridsen in 2012 and laundered it, and that he admitted to being in possession of two tranches of €800,000 belonging to Lauridsen. The prosecution also claims that two Irish men transferred €28,000 and £30,000 respectively into the account of Belgravia Consultants Ltd, and that two other Irish men transferred £10,000 each into the account of Anglo Irish Global Ltd. The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Nolan and a jury.
Andrew Shannon, 54, was convicted on 31 January 2014 for handling a stolen Frederick Goodall oil painting, a 1892 desert scene taken from Bantry House in Cork in March 2006. Gardaí searched his Dublin home in 2014, finding the painting valued at about €5,000. He was found guilty by jury after a two‑day trial and sentenced to two years' imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan in November 2014. Shannon appealed, arguing that evidence from his 2006 arrest over John Speed maps from Tinakilly House was improperly introduced to link him to the Bantry House theft. The Court of Appeal rejected this ground, stating the Gardaí had no suspicion of him in relation to Bantry House and that the evidence was admissible. The appeal was dismissed by Justice Isobel Kennedy, with the case heard by Justices George Birmingham and Patrick McCarthy.
Luke Foran, aged 21, will be sentenced for possession of a stolen mobile phone. The phone had been snatched from a woman who was injured when a man tried to retrieve it from a car. Foran was found in possession of the phone when Gardaí responded to a report of a car driving dangerously on East Wall Road. He was 17 at the time of the incident and was not charged in relation to the initial theft. Foran pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the phone on 2 November 2015. He has 105 prior convictions, including 19 thefts, 17 burglaries, five for handling stolen property and one for possession of stolen property, and is currently serving a five‑year sentence for criminal damage. Judge Elma Sheahan ordered a probation report before finalising sentencing on 21 October 2021. The woman confirmed the phone was hers.
A farmer from County Galway has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a man charged with money laundering and related offences. The witness told the court that he had sought assistance in securing a €15 million loan to restructure substantial debts accrued through land purchases. He said he paid €28,000 to obtain purported proof of funds, but later received a fictitious letter from Irish Nationwide Bank bearing the signature of Simon Magnier, falsely confirming he and his father held over €961,000 in an account. The witness stated they had never banked with Irish Nationwide and the loan did not materialise. Simon Gold, aged 54, from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments alleged to have occurred between January 2010 and October 2012. The trial continues.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Dubliner Jason Spooner to four and a half years in prison for the attempted robbery of cigarettes valued at €300 and possessing a crowbar to intimidate staff at a Centra store in Finglas on February 25, 2017. Spooner, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the charges. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed the sentence with the final 18 months suspended, reducing a headline six-year term due to mitigating factors, including the death of Spooner's father. The judge noted that Spooner's guilty plea, entered a week before trial, was diluted by its late timing. The court heard that Spooner, wearing a balaclava, entered the shop, locked the doors, and threatened a five-months-pregnant employee with the crowbar, demanding she open the safe. Although the victim fled to a back office, Spooner attempted to force entry and began loading cigarettes into a bag. He was arrested by Sergeant Conor Scully after threatening the garda with the weapon. Spooner told gardaí he had taken pills and intended to steal cigarettes. The judge acknowledged the ongoing fear experienced by the victim and noted Spooner's history of addiction and 16 previous convictions. Spooner's solicitor conveyed his client's apologies to the victim.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Vasile Marin, 24, was found guilty of robbing an 81‑year‑old woman's purse on 10 September 2016. The victim, who had recently had a pacemaker fitted, was targeted while shopping at Eurospar; Marin, seen on CCTV, approached her from behind, seized her purse containing €300, and fled. Marin had previously been convicted of theft twice, had no employment history, and was receiving disability allowance for hearing issues and depression. He claimed a gambling debt as his motive. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal. The judge emphasised that protecting vulnerable elderly people and ensuring deterrence were key reasons for the custodial sentence. The appeal was dismissed.
The trial of Simon Gold, a former psychic accused of money laundering, theft, deception, and controlling false instruments, continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gold, who has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges relating to offences between January 1, 2010, and October 22, 2012, is alleged to have used multiple aliases, including Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. On the ninth day of evidence, witness Eamonn O'Toole, a dairy farmer from Co. Tipperary, testified that he sought a loan in 2011 and was directed to contact Simon Magnier. O'Toole stated he transferred £10,000 to Anglo Irish Global Ltd, believing Magnier was a principal banker, but the loan never materialised. He described attempts to contact the alleged loan manager, Niall O'Donoghue, as futile, remarking it would be easier to reach Donald Trump. O'Toole also testified that he was advised to place a teenager's name on loan documents. The matter was adjourned and continues before Judge Nolan and a jury.
A 22‑year‑old man, Dean Donovan, and his uncle Jonathan Donovan (33) robbed a Spar shop on Martin's Road, Chapelizod, on 8 April 2018, taking €305 in cash. While fleeing, Dean brandished a machete at Garda Peter Smyth and Garda James Keogh, who were approaching the shop. The pair escaped in an Opel Corsa, but were pursued and arrested. Dean was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended; Jonathan received six and a half years' imprisonment with the final 18 months suspended and was disqualified from driving for five years. Both pleaded guilty to robbery; Dean also pleaded guilty to six burglary counts in Dublin and to possession of a machete, while Jonathan pleaded guilty to driving without insurance. The judge noted each defendant's prior convictions, addiction history and efforts at rehabilitation. The sentences reflect the seriousness of the robbery and the use of a weapon.
Nicholas Keane, 41, of Balbriggan, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to ten counts of handling stolen vehicles and two counts of inducing others to purchase stolen cars between July and October 2016. He sold ten stolen cars on the "Donedeal" website for €88,795, earning about €500 per sale. Keane admitted he was motivated by financial hardship and wanted to provide for his eight children. He denied involvement in the thefts, claiming he was only the front‑man who met buyers, handed over registration details and accepted cash. The judge, Melanie Greally, suspended the last year of a four‑year sentence on the condition that he obeys Probation Service directions regarding substance abuse. Keane expressed remorse and said he would repay victims if he won the lottery. The article reports the victims' financial losses and the impact on their lives.
A developer told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on the eighth day of evidence that he "freaked straight away" upon discovering that a man presented as a prospective financier knew nothing of his Portuguese construction project. Frank Gleeson, testifying in the trial of Simon Gold (54), of Augharan, Aughavas, County Leitrim, recounted seeking a bridging loan after failing to secure funding through conventional channels. He stated that Gold had agreed to arrange £3 million in financing in exchange for a £30,000 deposit, which Mr Gleeson and business partners transferred to an account in the name of Belgravia Consultants UK Ltd. Mr Gleeson said he subsequently met the proposed investor in London, who demonstrated no knowledge of the project. When the deposit was transferred despite his objections, Mr Gleeson said he pursued the matter and later established that Gold used alternative names. He recovered only £10,000 of the £30,000. Gold has pleaded not guilty to twenty-two charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments allegedly committed between January 2010 and October 2012.
Annette Sheehan, 38, of Harolds Cross, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 27 charges of theft and money laundering involving €148,289 between November 2017 and February 2018. Prosecution evidence alleged Sheehan, an office manager, transferred funds from her employer to her partner, Graham McAuley, 39, under implied threats. Detective Garda Rory O'Connor stated Sheehan was manipulated and considered a victim, noting that while all stolen employer funds were recovered, €25,000 of her personal savings given to McAuley was not. Judge Cormac Quinn acknowledged Sheehan's vulnerability, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. He described the case as exceptional, justifying a suspended sentence due to her cooperation and the garda's support. Sheehan was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions. Separately, McAuley, of Broc House, Nutley Lane, Dublin 4, was sentenced last February after pleading guilty to handling the stolen cash. He was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18-month prison sentence.
Dubliner Sean Carroll (35) pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted robbery at St Stephen's Green West on June 23, 2017, and a separate offence of assault causing harm outside a pub in Kilmacud, south Dublin on February 19, 2017. The charges were admitted, and Carroll was sentenced at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Greally imposed concurrent four-year sentences for each robbery, which were suspended on the condition that Carroll engage in offence and victim awareness work with the Probation Service. For the assault charge, a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence was imposed and suspended on the condition that he keep the peace for that period. The court heard that Carroll had a history of drug abuse involving cocaine and heroin at the time of the offences but has since made significant improvements in his life, including completing residential drug treatment and living in accommodation under the Peter McVerry Trust. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man who failed to attend his sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Hassan Bilal, aged 38, of Church Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly, had pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of catering equipment valued at over €10,000 belonging to a Mayo businessman. The items stolen on 18 May 2015 included a commercial freezer, deep fat fryers, mixing bowls, trays, a chip holder, a burger fryer, microwave, food blender and chopping boards. Bilal has 24 previous convictions for road traffic offences. His defence counsel informed the court she was unable to contact her client and could not oppose a prosecution application for an arrest warrant. Judge Elma Sheahan granted the warrant.
Simon Gold, aged 54, with an address in Aughavas, County Leitrim, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments, relating to events between January 2010 and October 2012. He has pleaded not guilty. During the seventh day of evidence, the court heard that a Danish businessman transferred €1.6 million in two tranches to what he believed was a custodial bank account with Ulster Bank in Dublin in October 2012. The account was subsequently frozen by gardaí. The businessman told the court he understood the funds were for a green energy investment opportunity and that he never authorised any withdrawals. A sum of €335,000 was transferred from the account to a third party without his instruction. Earlier testimony established that the accused used multiple aliases, including Simon Gould, Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. The trial continues before Judge Nolan and a jury.
A quarry owner from Limerick told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he paid a £10,000 deposit to secure a €4 million loan that never materialised. The man said he was contacted by someone using the name "Simon Magnier" after seeking financial assistance during the economic recession. He stated that following the deposit payment, the promised funds did not arrive and contact with the person became difficult to maintain. The trial concerns Simon Gold, aged 54, of Aughavas, County Leitrim, who has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments alleged to have occurred between January 2010 and October 2012. Evidence has established that the accused used multiple aliases including Simon Gould, Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue, and operated an Ulster Bank account in the name Anglo Irish Global Ltd. The trial before Judge Nolan and jury continues.
Patrick Hand, 38, with 100 prior convictions, was captured on CCTV attempting to rob a man at an Abbey Street LUAS stop on 15 July 2017. Hand approached the victim, asked for the price of a vodka bottle, and after the victim refused, followed him to the stop, demanding money and then trying to take his bag. He struck the victim in the chest and face. Hand, heavily intoxicated with cocaine and alcohol, was restrained by LUAS security until Gardaí arrived. During a Garda interview, Hand admitted the incident, acknowledged wrongdoing, and claimed he might have been hallucinating and had a blackout. He believed the bag was his. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. The court adjourned sentencing to 31 July to allow a probation report and a full plea in mitigation.
Simon Gold, aged 54, with an address in Aughavas, County Leitrim, denies 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges relate to the period between January 2010 and October 2012. During the fifth day of evidence, a fraud prevention analyst from Ulster Bank Belfast described a meeting held on 23 October 2012 regarding an account in the name of Anglo Irish Global Ltd. According to meeting minutes, Mr Gold stated the business operated in renewable energy and affordable housing, describing it as transparent and seeking to maintain good banking relations. The court heard Mr Gold acknowledged responsibility for the account and that he had used multiple names including Simon Gold, Simon Gould, Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. When informed by bank officials that a court order had been served to freeze the account, Mr Gold reportedly disputed any wrongdoing, claiming he would be foolish to engage in money laundering. The trial continues.
A trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard audio recordings allegedly capturing discussions about concealing large cash withdrawals. Simon Gold, aged 54, from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments, spanning January 2010 to October 2012. Detective Garda Deirdre Heenehan told the court that gardaí recovered a laptop containing relevant recordings. In one recording from October 15, 2012, a man referred to as "Niall" allegedly expressed concern about withdrawing €50,000 from €800,000 without triggering alerts. A second recording from October 24, 2012 captured discussion of frozen accounts and requests for cash payments. The court heard that Mr Gold acknowledged €800,000 was transferred to an Ulster Bank account in the name of Anglo Irish Global Ltd on October 15, 2012, and that he is responsible for this account. The trial continues.
Michael Doherty, a 39‑year‑old former wine and school‑lunch delivery businessman, was sentenced in October for an armed robbery of a Maxol petrol station in Lucan. On 31 March 2017 he entered the station, threatened staff with a claw hammer, demanded the till be opened, struck it when it did not, and stole about €400. He fled in a black car that Gardaí linked to him, leading to his arrest. Doherty pleaded guilty to the robbery of Kim Heffernan. Prosecutor Diana Stuart noted his 24 prior convictions were mainly traffic offences, while defence counsel Sarah‑Jane O'Callaghan argued the robbery was out of character, citing the collapse of his marriage, drug abuse, and business failure as contributing factors. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a Probation Service report, adjourned sentencing to 16 October, and remanded Doherty on continuing bail until that date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2019, Eoin Comerford, aged 33, was found guilty of producing an article capable of inflicting serious harm after a series of incidents at two Dublin shops on 10 August 2018. The first incident occurred at the Gala shop on East Wall Road, where Comerford was caught tampering with sweets and, after being asked to stop, threatened the shopkeeper with a screwdriver and called her a "fucking prostitute." He spat at her and, when her husband tried to escort him out, he threatened to burn the shop down. In a second incident at a premises on Amiens Street, he threatened a security guard with the screwdriver, saying he would "stick this in your neck" if the guard tried to hold him again. The court noted that Comerford had 169 prior convictions, including burglary, robbery, drug dealing and assault, and that he had a history of heroin and crack cocaine addiction.
A 20‑year‑old Dublin man, Conor Freeman, was arrested in Glenageary Court, Dun Laoghaire, on a U.S. warrant for alleged hacking theft of more than $2 million in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The U.S. authorities charge him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and four counts of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft. If convicted in the U.S., he faces up to 108 years in prison. Freeman was granted bail by the High Court on a bond of €5,000 with an independent surety of €15,000. He must not apply for travel documents, use technology such as a smartphone, go online, contact co‑accused, and must sign daily at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station. He is remanded on bail until July 1, when the case is next listed for mention. The U.S.
Two men, Martin Lumsden (35) and John Finn (32), were remanded in custody after pleading guilty to trespass and theft at Gaelscoil Cholmcille, a primary school, on 18 April 2018. They stole €880.78 from Trócaire charity boxes, which were found ripped open and almost empty. Lumsden also pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace, All Saints Park, on 7 May 2018, where he stole about €500 from two tills and was armed with a gun. Lumsden has 110 previous convictions, including hijacking, false imprisonment, robbery and burglary; Finn has 17 previous convictions, including burglary, theft, criminal damage and drug misuse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded Lumsden in custody with a condition to attend Coolmine Therapeutic Community until the completion of a treatment programme. She proposed a two‑year sentence for Finn with the final 12 months suspended, pending confirmation of his drug‑free status.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 54-year-old man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments between January 2010 and October 2012. A garda crime analyst told the court that during interview the accused acknowledged responsibility for a bank account in the name Anglo Irish Global Ltd, through which over €660,000 was transferred across multiple accounts within four days in mid-October 2012. The court heard the accused admitted receiving two €800,000 transfers from a Danish businessman and confirmed making numerous subsequent transfers to accounts under various names he had used. The accused previously told gardaí the funds were intended for a renewable energy project in the Ivory Coast, with his company to receive approximately 20 per cent of monies processed. The trial, before Judge Nolan and a jury, continues.
Simon Gold, aged 54, from Aughavas, County Leitrim, pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 22 charges of money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments between January 2010 and October 2012. During the second day of evidence, a transcript of a garda interview was read to the jury in which Mr Gold acknowledged using multiple names including Simon Gold, Simon Magnier, Niall O'Donoghue, Simon Gould and Stephen Gould. He stated he had adopted these names to prevent gardaí from tracking him, though he claimed to have remained "in plain sight". Mr Gold confirmed that €1.6 million was transferred into an Ulster Bank account for Anglo Irish Global Ltd in October 2012, which he said was intended for a renewable energy project in the Ivory Coast. He admitted dispersing funds on instructions from others and using false documents, including an ESB bill and UK driving licence, to open accounts and make purchases. A detective sergeant described finding vacant offices at Leixlip purportedly housing the company. The trial continues before Judge Martin Nolan.
Glen Kavanagh, 43, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for the 2016 raid on Woodbine Park Post Office, Blackrock, where he fired eight shots from a semi‑automatic Makarov pistol. He held a customer's head to the gun, leapt over the counter, and was tackled by an ESB repairman who forced the gun out of his hand, injuring a colleague. Kavanagh pleaded guilty to robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. The judge, citing his guilty plea, cooperation with investigators, drug‑related background, and rehabilitation efforts, imposed a ten‑year term back‑dated to January 2018. He was also found guilty of robbery, for which sentencing was adjourned to July 31 pending a probation report. The raid resulted in €455 stolen, the gun recovered, and Kavanagh's DNA found on a bag and a bloodstain outside the post office. The case highlighted his long‑standing drug problems and 46 prior convictions.
A 54-year-old man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with defrauding five men of approximately €1.7 million. Simon Gold has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments, alleged to have occurred between January 2010 and October 2012. The prosecution alleges that Mr Gold represented himself under multiple identities as a qualified financier and merchant banker to deceive victims into transferring funds. A wealthy Danish businessman and four Irish men, including a quarry owner and dairy farmer, are said to have been deceived into transferring money into bank accounts controlled by the accused. The prosecution claims Mr Gold used false documentation, including a fabricated ESB bill and purported bank drafts from a non-existent Irish Nationwide Bank, to facilitate the scheme. The trial before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury continues.
In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Paul Evans, 36, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, for an attempted robbery of taxi driver Frank Rowan on Marigold Avenue, Darndale, on 13 November 2016. Evans pointed a 6 mm BB gun at Rowan's head, demanding money and threatening to shoot. Rowan resisted, overpowered Evans, and seized the firearm, striking Evans on the head with the gun. A passer‑by called Gardaí, who later arrested Evans after he claimed the incident was a joke. Evans admitted to unlawful possession of a realistic imitation firearm and pleaded guilty. The judge noted Evans had no prior violent convictions, was heavily intoxicated, and described the offence as out of character, yet deemed the behaviour too serious for a suspended sentence, citing the broader issue of menacing behaviour faced by taxi drivers.